About RecordingHacks.com

What is this place?

About The Microphone Database

The microphone database came about primarily from my frustration in researching SDCs for drum overhead use a few years ago. There is a ton of good information about microphones online, but it’s diluted by 10x as much junky information, making the useful data hard to get to. I think our mic database solves that problem.

Every mic profile contains the mic’s specifications, links to all the best reviews and forum exchanges, a list of related microphones, a tag cloud describing the mic’s characteristics, and a long description that includes, as appropriate, the mic’s origin and history, construction and circuit details, common applications, insider information, and more. Modification and upgrade opportunities are provided, with a sidebar showing links to commercial modders who can help non-DIY types. And finally, for boutique mics, I interview the mic’s designer to get a fuller glimpse into the mic’s design intent and some of the technical magic embodied in the physical microphone.

Microphone frequency-response graphs are presented in a common size and scale, facilitating comparisons. Click any such graph to see our new (November, 2010) graph-overlay tool, which will stack up two frequency graphs for direct visual comparison.

The database provides four distinct navigation schemes for all this information: browse by vendor, browse by tag cloud, search by mic type or classification, browse by “related mics.”

Who runs this place?

If you want to reach me, send an email to my first name (matt) at this domain, or leave a comment below. Also you can follow me on Twitter.

Thanks for reading, and welcome.

Who else is here?

I have been blessed with assistance from a number of industry insiders, notably David Royer of Mojave Audio and Royer Labs, David Bock of Soundelux and Bock Audio, Klaus Heyne of German Masterworks, Oliver Archut of AMI/Tab-Funkenwerk and Lucas Engineering, Tony Merrill of Stephen Paul Audio, Brent Casey of PMI/Studio Projects, and Bob Crowley of Crowley & Tripp.

56 Responses to “About RecordingHacks.com”

Edmund Weber

Good morning Matt,
We spoke perhaps two or so years ago about ribbon mics and such. I’m in
Petaluma, and am in need of plans for building shock mounts sturdy enough
to safely fly some RCA KU-2’s Been waiting too long for some to show up
on Ebay or the mic forums. Always enjoy reading your reviews & blog!
Ed Weber

Quick question:
I know that a pair of cardioid capsules in one mic can be put in & out of phase, etc, to produce differing Polar Patterns but what are the results/pros&cons in using two OMNI capsules instead?

Russell Breeding

Facebook “Renaissance Sound & Recording”
Really appreciate your site. Lots of good and great information. I do only live recording and have a decent stock of MXL mics. Main DAW is Protools 8 M-powered.